Device for inserting stopper-holding devices



(No Model.) A

' 'J. J. SANDS.

DEVICE FOR INSERTING STOPPER HOLDING DEVICES. P10411446. Patented Dec, 1-7, 1889.

. UNITnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.IOSIAS J. SANDS, or MERTON, WISCONSIN.

DEVICE FOR INSERTING STOPPER-HOLDING DEVICES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,446, dated December 17, 1889.

Application filed May 13, 1889. Serial No. 310,603. (No m0del.)

To all whom it may concern:

Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Insert. ing Stopper-Holding Devices; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

per therein, which holding-bar is engaged with a groove in the orifice and is adapted to be eX anded and contracted longitudinally by th bending of the bar to engage its ends and isengage them from the groove of the orific A stopper-holding device of this kind is shown in a prior application for patent, Serial No. 293,125, filed December 10, 1S88, also in am other application, Serial No. 310,604, and filed simultaneously herewith, and in patent No. 413,962, issued October 22,1889, is shown an apparatus embodying my invention, consisting, primarily, in a tool adapted to act upon the top of the cork or stopper or upon a plate rest-ing thereon or upon the ends of a holdingbar resting on the cork and acting to press the top surface of the cork downwardly until the-holding-bar is in position with its ends opposite the groove inthe bottle-neck, said? tool being provided with a separate movablel part or plunger adapted to act upon the cen; tral upwardly bent or arched part of the; holding-bar to depress or straighten the lat-Q ter and thus elongate the same to engage with f the groove of the orifice.

The invention consists in the matters here inafter described,jaiidpointed out in the appended claims;

In the accompanyingdrawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a sectional view of a bottle-neck provided with a stopper-holding device inserted bythe use of the novel im-j plem'ent herein described. igl;2 isa perspective view of the"hold ing-b "removed from the bottle-neck. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the flanged supporting-plate. Fig. 4 Be it known that I, J OSIAS J. SANDS, of Merton, in the county of tVaukesha' and State of 5 shows in sectional view, with parts in sideelevation, a tool or implement for inserting stopper-holding devices, together with a bottleneck containing holding devices made like that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 isa plan view of the end of the inserting devices adjacent to the orifice of the bottle. Fig. 6 shows the position of the stopper and holding devices before the inserting tool is applied thereto. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a bottle-neck containing a cen- This invention relates to an improvement in means for inserting in bottles and other; vessels stopper-holding devices of that class which comprises a holding-bar placed within the orifice of the vessel over the cork or stoptrally-apertured holding-bar. Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing'the bottle-neck containing a holding-bar like that shown in Fig. 7, together wit-h a device for inserting this particular form of holding-bar. Fig. 9 is a face View of the working end of the 'tool shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a plan view of a bottleneck, showing an arched holding-bar having four arms; Fig. 11 isa face View similar to Fig. 9 of the working end of the insertingtool, such as is shown in Figs. 8 and 9, adapted for use-in connection with the form of holding-bar shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 illustrates a machine for inserting the stopper-holding device, said machine containing the same principles of construction illustrated in the other figures of the drawings.

The stopper-holding device shown in Figs. 1 to 6, both inclusive,'is like that illustrated in said simultaneously-filed application, Serial No. 310,604, and in said Patent No.

413,9622, and is made as follows:

O isa flexible sheet-metal holding-bar having fiat ends 0 0, adapted to enter the groove a and to hold the stopper from outward movement. The holding-bar C, after insertion, is fiat or straight, as shown in Fig. 1, but before insertion is bent into curved or arched form, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to shorten it or bring its ends together sufficiently to allow them to pass the shoulder a.

D is a metal bar or plate, which is located beneath the holding-bar and rests upon the stopper, said plate being made of suitable length to pass freely through the part of the vessel-orifice above the groove a Said plate is made flat in its central part with, parallel side edges, and has upwardly-extending lateral flanges d d, a main purpose of which is to give longitudinal stiifness to the plate. The ends of said flanges d d are flush with the ends of the plate, so that when the plate is dropped into the bottle-neck they will come in contact, or nearly so, with the shoulder a, and thereby act to center the said plates within the bottle-neck. Said plate is preferably made of such length and thickness that when placed in position for the engagement of the ends of the holding-bar restingthereon with the groove of the bottle-neck its ends will rest upon the beveled surfaces a The stopper-holding device constructed as aboy'e described is removed for extracting the cork by pulling upwardly or lifting the central part of the holding-bar, so as to bend the same at its middle and withdraw its ends from engagement with the groove of the bottle-neck, as fully set forth in said separate application, Serial No. 310,604, and in said Patent No. 413,962.

E indicates as a whole a tool or implement for inserting the stopper holding device shown in said Figs. 1 to 6 and hereinbefore described. Said implement E comprises two jaws E E connected by a pivot e and provided with handles e 6 The lower jaw E is pronged and is adapted to engage the external shoulder commonly present in bottlenecks in the manner illustrated. The upper jaw E is provided with a cylindric part or head E the lower end of which is adapted to enter the orifice of the bottle-neck and is provided with a central recess e forming an annular downwardly projecting flange 6 adapted to engage the end portion of the flanges d d of the plate D in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The central recess 6 alfords space for the upwardly-bent part of the arched holdingbar before the same is straightened, so that when the upper jaw of the tool is brought against the holding device placed over the cork it will act upon the said plate D without having any tendency to straighten the holding-bar.

F is a plunger mounted in the upper jaw concentric with the cylindric part E thereof and adapted to act upon the middle part of the holding-bar when the tool is engaged with the plate D. Said plunger F may be actuated in any suitable manner, but, as herein shown, is provided with a head or knob F, which may be struck or pressed down by the hand of the operator for actuating the plunger. Forconvenience in use of the implement a spring G is preferably employed to throw upwardly the plunger F and to hold the same normally in its elevated position. In the particular construction of the parts illustrated the cylindrie part E of the implement is extended upwardly and is provided with a central recess, within which the spring G, in this instance made of spiral form, is located, said part E being also provided with a screw-cap 6 which guides the upper part of the plunger and acts as a stopper to limit the upward movement of the plunger, which latter is provided with a fixed collar below the cap, against which the said spring bears. Said jaw E is provided with stops or projecting parts E E to limit the inward or downward movement of the upper jaw in pressing the holding device downwardly into place, the parts being so arranged that when the said stops or projections E E come against the upper edge of the bottle-neck the plate D will be in position to sustain the ends of the holding-bar which rest thereon opposite the groove a of the bottle-neck and in position to enter the same.

In inserting the stopper-holding devices by use of the implement, described the corks will preferably be driven by the corking-machine not quite to the point at which they will finally remain, so that the top of the cork will be left somewhat above the groove a in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 6that is to say, the corks are so driven that their upper surface will stand above the groove after the plunger of the corking-machine is lifted from the cork, and the corks may either be driven a less distance than the usual depth or the corks may be allowed to expand to bring their upper surfaces into the position described after being driven to the usual depth. After the cork is inserted in the manner described the plate D and holdingbar 0 are placed on the top of the cork in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6. The implement E is then applied to the bottle-neck and the jaws brought together to press downwardly or inwardly upon the plate D until the top of the cork has been depressed sufficiently to bring the ends of the holding-bar opposite the groove of the bottleneck in the manner shown in Fig. 4. The jaws will of course be brought together until the stops or projections thereon strike the top of the bottle-neck, the same operating to determine the position of the holding-bar in the manner hereinbefore described. After the cork has been compressed the plunger F is actuated to expand the holding-bar into engagement with the groove of the bottleneck in a manner readily understood.

It will of course be understood that an implement like that shown in Figs. 4 and 5 may be used to insert a holding-bar which is fiat after insertion as well as one which is permanently arched and is expanded by partially flattening the arch. The holding-bars constructed in 'both'these ways are shown in said simultaneously-filed application, Serial No. 310,604, and in said P2tt6I1tNO.4=13,962, as employed in connection with the flanged plate like the plate D, which latter plate is employed mainly for the purpose of bringing dle by the direct pressure of the cork. Aside from this function of said plate D the presence of the latter is very desirable in inserting the holding bar by the use of a tool giving pressure upon the top of the cork in the manner hereinbefore described, for the reason that said plate acts to support or sustain the ends of the holding-bar opposite the groove of the bottle-neck and to take the downward pressure of the ends of said bar when the plunger is brought against the same for elongating it. The employment of such plate to support the ends of the bar is not,

however, essential for use in connection with: the implement herein described, for the reason that the annular part 6 of the implement may be arranged to bear upon the ends of theholding-bar and upon the surface of the cork at the sidesof the holding-bar, so as to press these parts down until the ends of the holding-bar are opposite the groove, after which the plunger may be depressed to elongate the holding-bar. The use of the plate to support the holding-bar is, however, of

great advantage an dwill usually be preferred, inasmuch as it affords a better support for the holding-bar than the unprotected top of the cork while the said holding-bar is being expanded, and at the same time acts to transmit the pressure of the cork to the ends of the holding-bar in the manner hereinbefore described.

In Figs. 8, 9, and 10 I have shown a holding-bar having-a central aperture through which may be inserted a champagne-tap, and which is similar to a holding-bar illustrated in the said Patent No. 413,962,11ereinbefore referred to. The holding-bar C illustrated in this instance is fiat afterinsertion and is provided with a central aperture 0, while below said plate, between the same and the cork, is placed a supporting-plate D, which in this instance is of annular form. Said plate D serves to sustain the ends of the holding-bar and to transmit the upward pressure of the cork to the ends of the holding-bar in the same manner as does the plate D. (Shown in Fig. 3.) The implement E in this case is made like that shown in t and 5, with the exception that the cylindric projection E thereof is provided with two opposite points or prongs e e, adapted to pass upon either side of the holding-bar C and engage the ring D, said holding-bar in this instance being made sufficiently narrow to expose the greater part or the whole of the width of the ring at the sides thereof. The form of the prongs e e is clearly shown in Fig. 9, wherein the dotted lines indicate thelshape of the holding-bar and its position in relation to said prongs when the implementis in use. The plunger F is shown in said Figs. 8 and 9 as provided with an enlargement or head f at its lower end, which is larger in diameter than in the central aperture 0' of the holding-bar, so asto properly engage the latter when downward pressure is brought upon the flange to elongate the bar.

The bottle-neck shown in Figs. 1, 4t, and 6 is provided below the groove a with a beveled surface a against which the plate D may strike and rest when the said plate is forced downwardly into the bottleneck by the use'of the inserting implement described. The presence of such inclined surface or shoulder is not, however, essential, and in Fig. 8 the bottle-neck is shown as being made of the same internal diameter both above and below the groove (F. In a construction of this kind the plate D will of course be free to pass into the bottle-neck below the groove provided sufficient downward pressure is brought upon the top of the cork; but the presence of the stop E on the upper jaw of the inserting implement prevents the said plate'and the holding-bar from being forced into the bottle farther than necessary for the proper engagement of the holding-bar with said groove. g

In Fig.'10 I have shown a bottle-neck provided with a holding-barC, having four arms 0 0 adapted to engage the groove of the bottleneck, such holding-bar being similar to that illustrated in said prior application, Serial No. 293,125, filed December 10,1888, and hereinbefore referred to. When a holdingbar of this shape is used, the working face of the head E of the tool will be provided with four prongs 6 e arranged as clearly shown in Fig. 11, which figure is a face view of the said head E and showsin dotted lines the form of the holding-bar and its relation to the points 6 6 when the implement is in operation.

Instead of'using an implement in the nature of the hand-tool or pinchers such as is shown in Figs. 4 and 8, a machine operated either by hand or foot lever or by a suitable motor may be employed for the same purpose. Such a machine is illustrated in Fig. 12. In said figure, H is a vertical standard provided in its top with an overhanging arm H, provided at its'end with a hub H and with a depending cylindric projection H I is a plunger inserted through the hub H and provided with a knob I. The spring 1 interposed between the said knob and the top of the hub H holds the plunger elevated. The

cylindric projection II on the lower end of the plunger I is constructed in the same manner as the corresponding part shown in Figs. 4 and S to 11. Said projection H is desirably standard H. \Vithin the said guide H is placed a vertical sliding rod J, having at its top end a cup-shaped receptacle J to receive the bottom of the bottle. K is a hand-lever pivoted to a bracket H and engaged at its end with the lower end of the sliding rod J. The receptacle J and the cylindric head H are so arranged that the bottle may be easily inserted beneath the head and will be held axially in alignment therewith. In the operation of the machine thus constructed the parts constituting the stopper-holding devices are inserted in the bottle-neck over the stopper either before or after the bottle is placed in the machine, and the bottle is then lifted by pressure upon the.hand-lever K until the top of the bottle-neck is brought into contact with the stop 71 and the cork is thereby depressed and the supporting-plate and holdingbar thrust inwardly or downwardly into proper position for the engagement of the ends of the holding-bar with the groove. The plunger I is then actuated to elongate the holding-bar in the same manner as before described.

The machine shown in Fig. 12 is only one of many forms in which this machine may be made, it being entirely obvious that as far as the operation of the parts constituting my invention is concerned the part or head which acts upon the top of the cork may be forcibly applied to the cork in any manner found convenient or desirable, and the plunger within said head may be actuated in any desired manner. It will of course be seen that the working end of the cork-compressing implement made generally as above described may be shaped in such manner as to operate in connection with either of the forms of holding-bar shown in the several separate applications hereinbe'fore referred to or in connection with other forms of such holdingbars.

In the separate application, Serial No. 310,604, filed simultaneously herewith, and in said Patent No. 413,062 I have shown and described a supporting-plate to be placed beneath the holding-bar and adapted to rest upon the inclined or beveled surface, like that shown at a Fig. 1, so as to sustain the ends of the holding-bar opposite the groove at the time of elongating said bar by pressure upon its upwardly-bent central part. Vhen such inclined or beveled shoulder is relied upon to sustain the supporting-plate, however, the parts can be conveniently inserted without the use of a tool like that herein shown only when the cork is driven below the said shoulder, so that the plate will rest freely thereon at the time of inserting the holdingbar. I11 case, however, the top of the cork is left somewhat above the groove or rises above the same by expansion of the cork, the holding-bar cannot easily be inserted without pressing downwardly upon the supportingplate or the ends of the holding-bar, and for this purpose the implement such as is herein shown is necessary. WVhen the bottle-neck is smaller below than above the groove and is provided with an inclined surface a such as is shown in Fig. 1, the use of the stop upon the head of the implement to prevent the holding-bar being thrust too far into the bottle-neck is, of course, not essential, inasmuch as the contact of the supporting-plate with the said beveled surfaces acts to limit the inward movement of the same. \Vhen said stop is present, however, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the supporting-plate and holding-bar will be thrust the proper distance into the orifice whether the said beveled surface is present in the orifice or not, and the use of such stop is preferred, for the reason that it insures the holding-bar being brought accurately in position with reference to the groove of the bottle-neck when the beveled surface or shoulder a is either present or absent.

I clai mas my invention 1. A device for inserting a stopper-holding device, which embraces a holding-bar and a plate beneath the same, comprising a head of less size than the orifice, adapted to enter the orifice and to press said plate and the stop per into the same, and a plunger extending through said head for acting upon said holding-bar.

2. A device for inserting a stopper-holding device, which embracesa holding-bar and a plate beneath the same, comprising a head adapted to enter the orifice of the vessel and a plunger, said head being provided with a plurality of projections or prongs to engage said plate without acting on the holding-bar, substantially as described. I

3. A device for inserting stopper-holdin devices of the character described, comprising a head adapted to enter the orifice of the vessel and a plunger, said head being provided with a central recess to receive the central part of the holding-bar, substantially as described.

4. A device for inserting stopper-holding devices of the character described, comprising a head adapted to enter the orifice of the vessel, a plunger movable in said head, and a spring applied to retract said plunger, substantially as described.

5. A device for inserting stopper-holding devices of the character described, comprising a head adapted to enter the orifice of the vessel and a plunger movable in said head, said head being provided with a stop to engage the margin in the orifice for limiting the inward movement of the head in applying pressure to the stopper, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSIAS J. SANDS.

WVitnesses:

O. CLARENCE PooLE, HARRY COBB KENNEDY. 

